Bailiffs

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to implement the pledge in The Coalition: Our Programme for Government to "provide more protection against aggressive bailiffs and unreasonable charging orders, ensure that courts have the power to insist that repossession is always a last resort, and ban orders for sale on unsecured debts of less than £25,000."

Lord McNally: The Government are currently considering the public comments received on The Coalition: Our Programme for Government and will announce their plans in due course.

Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many women aged (a) 12, (b) 13, (c) 14, (d) 15, (e) 16, (f) 17 and (g) 18 years old in each strategic health authority area who had (1) one, (2) two, (3) three, (4) four, (5) five, (6) six, (7) seven, (8) eight, (9) nine and (10) ten or more previous abortions had an abortion in (i) 2008, and (ii) 2009.

Earl Howe: The information we can provide for 2008 and 2009 is shown in the following tables. The department has withheld data where there are totals of less than 10 (between zero and nine) cases as we believe the disclosure of this information could breach an individual's confidentiality. This is in accordance with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005).
	
		
			 Previous abortions by age under 19 and Strategic Health Authority of residence, 2008. 
			   Age   
			 Strategic Health Authority Previous abortions under 18 18 Total under age 19 
			 East of England 0 1,431 891 2,322 
			  1+ 106 173 279 
			  Total 1,537 1,064 2,601 
			 East Midlands 0 1,342 697 2,039 
			  1+ 84 98 182 
			  Total 1,426 795 2,221 
			 London 0 2,756 1,601 4,357 
			  1+ 372 464 836 
			  Total 3,128 2,065 5,193 
			 North East 0 946 424 1,370 
			  1+ 56 55 111 
			  Total 1,002 479 1,481 
			 North West 0 2,674 1,385 4,059 
			  1+ 206 218 424 
			  Total 2,880 1,603 4,483 
			 South Central 0 1,052 547 1,599 
			  1+ 83 105 188 
			  Total 1,135 652 1,787 
			 South East 0 1,259 692 1,951 
			  1+ 105 124 229 
			  Total 1,364 816 2,180 
			 South West 0 1,509 756 2,265 
			  1+ 114 111 225 
			  Total 1,623 867 2,490 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0 1,858 933 2,791 
			  1+ 127 144 271 
			  Total 1,985 1,077 3,062 
			 West Midlands 0 2,046 1,001 3,047 
			  1+ 213 241 454 
			  Total 2,259 1,242 3,501 
			 Wales 0 976 533 1,509 
			  1+ 72 74 146 
			  Total 1,048 607 1,655 
			 England and Wales 0 17,849 9,460 27,309 
			  1+ 1,538 1,807 3,345 
			  Total 19,387 11,267 30,654 
		
	
	Notes:
	Ages and number of previous abortions are grouped where totals are less than 10 (between 0 and 9) or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value from previously published data.
	
		
			 Previous abortions by age under 19 and Strategic Health Authority of residence, 2009 
			   Age   
			 Strategic Health Authority Number of previous abortions under 18 18 Total under age 19 
			 East of England 0 1,445 752 2,197 
			  1+ 104 133 237 
			  Total 1,549 885 2,434 
			 East Midlands 0 1,189 661 1,850 
			  1+ 60 91 151 
			  Total 1,249 752 2,001 
			 London 0 2,460 1,401 3,861 
			  1+ 393 419 812 
			  Total 2,853 1,820 4,673 
			 North East 0 864 401 1,265 
			  1+ 47 60 107 
			  Total 911 461 1,372 
			 North West 0 2,527 1,341 3,868 
			  1+ 194 239 433 
			  Total 2,721 1,580 4,301 
			 South Central 0 933 541 1,474 
			  1+ 73 96 169 
			  Total 1,006 637 1,643 
			 South East 0 1,166 625 1,791 
			  1+ 109 110 219 
			  Total 1,275 735 2,010 
			 South West 0 1,364 747 2,111 
			  1+ 92 110 202 
			  Total 1,456 857 2,313 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0 1,937 1,013 2,950 
			  1+ 185 204 389 
			  Total 2,122 1,217 3,339 
			 West Midlands 0 1,661 899 2,560 
			  1+ 117 149 266 
			  Total 1,778 1,048 2,826 
			 Wales 0 940 450 1,390 
			  1+ 56 79 135 
			  Total 996 529 1,525 
			 England and Wales 0 16,486 8,831 25,317 
			  1+ 1,430 1,690 3,120 
			  Total 17,916 10,521 28,437 
		
	
	Notes: Ages and number of previous abortions are grouped where totals are less than 10 (between 0 and 9) or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value from previously published data.

Abortion

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many women in England and Wales who had (a) one, (b), two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five, (f) six, (g) seven, (h) eight, (i) nine and (j) ten or more previous abortions had an abortion in (i) 2008, and (ii) 2009.

Earl Howe: The information we can provide for 2008 and 2009 is shown in the following tables. The department has withheld data where there are totals of less than 10 (between zero and nine) cases as we believe the disclosure of this information could breach an individual's confidentiality. This is in accordance with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005).
	
		
			 Number of previous abortions by Strategic Health Authority of residence, 2008 
			  Number of previous abortions   
			 Strategic Health Authority 0 1 2 3 4 5 or more Total 
			 East of England 11,114 4067 968 237 53 21 16,460 
			 East Midlands 8,891 2755 594 120 .. .. 12,409 
			 London 28,821 14275 4050 1086 305 142 48,679 
			 North East 5,457 1583 341 65 .. .. 7,482 
			 North West 17,631 5830 1203 285 50 20 25,019 
			 South Central 8,191 2964 596 126 43 14 11,934 
			 South East 8,718 3531 759 165 56 19 13,248 
			 South West 9,826 3207 590 140 37 12 13,812 
			 West Midlands 13,536 5409 1149 296 63 23 20,476 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 11,857 3843 759 190 39 11 16,699 
			 Wales 6,539 2096 345 70 .. .. 9,078 
			 England and Wales 130,581 49,560 11,354 2,780 739 282 195,296 
		
	
	Notes:
	Number of previous abortions are grouped where totals are less than 10 (between 0 and 9) or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value from previously published data.
	.. Suppressed value less than 10
	
		
			 Number of previous abortions by Strategic Health Authority of residence, 2009 
			  Number of previous abortions   
			 Strategic Health Authority 0 1 2 3 4 5 or more Total 
			 East of England 10,892 3,988 1,002 230 69 30 16,211 
			 East Midlands 8,564 2,597 558 127 40 17 11,903 
			 London 27,104 13,827 3,917 1,049 313 150 46,360 
			 North East 5,261 1,533 331 67 .. .. 7,220 
			 North West 17,408 5,893 1,240 244 70 19 24,874 
			 South Central 7,549 2,723 646 125 31 17 11,091 
			 South East 8,418 3,448 878 167 60 25 12,996 
			 South West 9,292 2,991 577 117 43 15 13,035 
			 West Midlands 13,471 5,159 1,229 240 63 19 20,181 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 11,384 3,910 833 191 44 26 16,388 
			 Wales 6,367 1,971 391 80 .. .. 8,841 
			 England and Wales 125,710 48,040 11,602 2,637 779 332 189,100 
		
	
	Notes:
	Number of previous abortions are grouped where totals are less than 10 (between 0 and 9) or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value from previously published data.
	.. Suppressed value less than 10

Afghanistan

Lord Luce: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the report by International Christian Concern that Abdul Sattar Khawasi, Deputy Secretary of the Afghan Lower House of Parliament, has called for the public execution of Christians recently captured in Afghanistan; and whether they will make representations about the matter to the Government of Afghanistan.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are aware of reports of the Deputy Secretary of the Afghan Lower House of Parliament's remarks regarding the execution of Christian converts from Islam. We understand that the remarks were made during a debate over a recent series of television reports, which showed video footage of Afghans converting to Christianity. As a result, two international non-government organisations have been accused of proselytising and are currently under investigation by Afghan authorities. Under Afghan law, proselytising is illegal and conversion from Islam is a capital offence. We are following the investigation closely, but cannot pre-empt the findings at this stage.
	The Government are opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances and continue to strive for the global abolition of capital punishment. The Government also strongly support the right to freedom of religion or belief, including full implementation of those norms laid out in Article 2 of the Afghan constitution, which provides for freedom of religion. As an EU member, the UK adopted a set of EU council conclusions on freedom of religion or belief. These conclusions reaffirm the EU's commitment to promote and protect freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including the right to adopt, change or abandon one's religion or belief of one's own free will. The Government are working to support all individuals who face discrimination and persecution on the basis of religion, including Christians, wherever they are in the world. Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will raise this case with the Afghan Government as necessary.

Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops

The Countess of Mar: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any link between the rise in infectious diseases of trees and the application of glyphosate used for under-story weed control.

Lord Henley: The Government have not commissioned any such research; however, the Forestry Commission does not consider that there is any reason to associate the rise in the number or severity of tree diseases with the use of chemical weed control agents.

Benefits: Non-British Citizens

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what publications are available to European Union citizens informing them of the availability of welfare benefits; and in what languages they are published.

Lord Freud: The Department for Work and Pensions produces three leaflets for customers whose first language is not English. These leaflets provide basic information on the benefits and services available to customers from:
	Jobcentre Plus;Pension Service; andDisability and Carer Service.
	The leaflets tell customers how they can contact these organisations to find out more information and to claim the benefits they are entitled to. Each leaflet contains information in two European languages (English and Polish) and six other languages, representing the eight most popular languages used in the UK. The total list of languages is:
	English;Polish;Arabic;Urdu;Punjabi;Gujarati;Mandarin; andBengali.

Cayman Islands

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government why there has been a delay in the privatisation of the water company in the Cayman Islands.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The privatisation of the water company is the responsibility of the Cayman Islands Government.
	During the budget address on 15 June, the Premier of the Cayman Islands announced the privatisation of the water authority. Privatisation can only occur once local legislation has been amended to allow for the sale, and following a number of steps to ensure adherence with proper procedures and due diligence.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received representations from Congolese politicians proposing an independent commission of inquiry into the death of human rights activist Floribert Chebeya in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and, if so, what was their response.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We have not received any representations from Congolese politicians proposing an independent commission of inquiry into the death of Floribert Chebeya.
	My honourable friend Henry Bellingham's Statement of 3 June 2010 called for a full, proper, and transparent investigation into the death of Mr Chebeya. President Kabila has ordered a full investigation into the death of Mr Chebeya which we fully support.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the protection of human rights activists and those working for the strengthening of civil society in that country in light of the alleged murders of activists and journalists.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are deeply concerned at the increasing intimidation and violence faced by human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We follow cases of concern closely and press the Government of DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet their responsibility for protecting human rights defenders, journalists and civil society. Most recently our ambassador to the DRC raised our concerns at the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya with government officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
	We are also providing practical support to ensure that human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society are able to carry out their work. Our embassy in Kinshasa is implementing EU guidelines on human rights defenders. With our EU partners in the DRC we met eight non-government organisations (NGOs) representing human rights defenders who gave their feedback on the EU human rights strategy. We have appointed a liaison officer and made their contact details available to local NGOs and civil society. The UN Organization Mission in DRC (MONUC) Protection Unit also provides protection services to those in danger including relocation and advice on personal security.
	We also support a media fund jointly administered with France and Sweden to support professionalisation, regulation, and the economic viability of the media in the DRC. Funding goes to local media organisations and NGOs including Journalists in Danger, which campaigns for freedom of the press.

Disabled People: Work Capability Assessments

Baroness Thomas of Winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the first independent review of the employment and support allowance and the work capability assessment will begin; how they will appoint its members; and whether it will be open to groups representing people undergoing assessments.

Lord Freud: The Government have a statutory commitment to an independent review of the operation of the work capability assessment annually for the first five years. We are in the process of commissioning this review and aim for it to report before the end of the year.

Economic Crime Agency

Lord Corbett of Castle Vale: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the cost of abolishing the Serious Fraud Office.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated administrative cost of establishing a single economic crime agency; and what are its estimated annual running costs.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people are employed in each of the agencies which will be abolished or merged into the proposed single economic crime agency; and how many will be employed by the new body.

Lord Sassoon: In accordance with the coalition programme for government, the Government are examining options for the creation of an economic crime agency and will announce decisions in due course. As yet, no decisions have been taken on the agency's structure.

Elections: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps have been taken in Northern Ireland to ensure that the same voter registration requirements, including a requirement for a photograph, is used for elections to local authorities, the Northern Ireland Assembly and Parliament.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The Representation of the People Act 1983 makes provision for the registration of electors, and the requirements for voter registration in Northern Ireland are the same in respect of parliamentary, Assembly, local and European elections.
	There is no requirement to submit any form of photographic identification for the purpose of registering to vote in Northern Ireland.

Elections: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of alleged electoral malpractice in Northern Ireland during the general election on 6 May; how many persons allegedly attempting to vote illegally were arrested; whether a police officer with power to arrest was present in each polling station; and, if not, how persons could be arrested.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not hold information regarding arrests made at the general election or numbers and locations of police officers. These are matters for the PSNI and the noble Lord may wish to write to the chief constable directly to obtain such information.
	The Government will make an overall assessment of the extent of electoral malpractice in Northern Ireland when the Electoral Commission formally reports on this issue later this year.

Elections: Northern Ireland

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prosecutions for alleged electoral malpractice in Northern Ireland during the general election on 6 May (a) have been dealt with by the courts, and (b) are awaiting trial.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Although the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is responsible for maintaining the legal framework in respect of Northern Ireland elections, the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland is responsible for prosecutions in Northern Ireland and would be best placed to provide accurate information on any prosecutions for alleged electoral malpractice and their progress. The noble Lord may wish to write to the Director of Public Prosecutions directly.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has permitted embryos or gametes provided by patients for a particular research project to be used in separate research, where the latter was a concurrent project with different stated aims from those described in the patient information literature on the original research project; and at which licensed research centres.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government which research licences have been required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to cover oocyte karyotyping and studies of cell cycle proteins in human eggs; for which of those licences the corresponding patient information did not make reference to the creation of embryos within the same study; and what were the dates of duration of all such research licences.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Chief Executive indicated on 8 November 2009 that 681 human eggs (including 17 fresh eggs) had been used under research licence R0122 between August 2004 and March 2005; and how that related to the information on the study that was concurrently provided to patients which indicated that the only cells to be used for such research would be embryos considered unsuitable for freezing.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Thornton on 2 November 2009 (WA 7-8) and 10 February 2010 (WA 135), what was the source of the information described in the internal background note to Question HL5792, which stated that 66 eggs were donated for research at the Newcastle Centre for Life in 2008 and 52 eggs from six treatment cycles were similarly donated between 1 April 2009 and 31 August 2009; and whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of the original documents from which those data were derived.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that on no occasion has it permitted embryos or gametes provided by patients for a particular research project to be used in separate research, in the circumstances set out in the noble Lord's Question.
	Additionally, no research licences have been required to cover oocyte karyotyping and studies of cell cycle proteins in human eggs in the circumstances described by the noble Lord.
	In respect of the use of human eggs under research licence R0122, the HFEA has advised that this information was provided to the noble Lord, in response to his request to the HFEA for this information, by the authority's chief executive. The HFEA has also advised that it does not know how the number of eggs used in research projects relates to information provided to patients participating in that research because the use of human eggs for research purposes does not require a research licence from the authority.
	The HFEA has advised that the source of the information contained in the background note to Question HL5792 was the authority's register of patients, donors and treatment cycles. The HFEA has also advised that the information quoted by the noble Lord was submitted by Newcastle Centre for Life via an electronic database interface; therefore, there are no copies of original documents to place in the Library.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 10 February (WA 136-37), what was the average duration of a site visit by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority inspectors since 2004 (a) for licensed centres generally, and (b) for centres 0017, 0157 and 0206.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it would need to examine all inspection reports produced since 2004 in order to establish the average duration of an inspection site visit. For that reason, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government which individuals employed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) used the pseudonym "Reeta Ngo" prior to 2006 or prompted others to do so for acquiring personal information from other public bodies under the Freedom of Information Act 2000; what were the reasons for doing so; and whether any of the information thus obtained directly concerned clinics licensed by the HFEA.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that this pseudonym was used by one of its employees prior to 2006.
	I am advised that the HFEA have now initiated an internal investigation into this matter.
	In the mean time, the HFEA has advised that it cannot identify the employee, as disclosure may be in breach of the Data Protection Act 1990. The information that was obtained did not relate to clinics licensed by the HFEA.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many eggs from non-human species have been used in attempts to create cybrid embryos according to records held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA); how the number of eggs used from each species compares with the number expected to be used; and what information about the expected outcomes of such research was provided to participants who donated human nuclei at each of the HFEA licensed centres.

Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it is not required in law to collect and hold information about the use of eggs, human or non-human, in research. The information it holds is, therefore, incomplete and limited. However, the information the HFEA does hold shows that the number of non-human eggs that have been used in attempts to create human admixed embryos is 222.
	The HFEA does not hold any further information about this matter.

Employment: Work Programme

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to protect severely disabled clients in the new welfare to work programme.

Lord Freud: The Government have committed to introducing the work programme by summer 2011. The work programme will be designed to meet the needs of a wide range of customer groups, including people with a disability or health condition.
	We recognise there will be some for whom the work programme is not appropriate. We are committed to supporting severely disabled people and are currently reviewing the best way of doing this.

Energy: Carbon Emissions

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of reducing the United Kingdom's carbon emissions on its competitive position.

Lord Marland: The Government will implement a full programme of measures to fulfil their ambitions for a low-carbon, eco-friendly and fairer economy. Ensuring that the UK reduces its carbon emissions in a manner that maintains the UK's competitive position is important to drive economic growth and innovation.
	We continue to push for global action to reduce carbon emissions, thereby creating an international level playing field for UK businesses. We believe that the risk of carbon leakage is limited to a small number of sectors (which are energy intensive). However, there are measures in the EU ETS directive which would allow this risk to be managed. Because these sectors are important to the UK economy, we are currently working together with other EU member states on the application of these measures.
	Taking action on climate change also offers opportunities to UK business. Greater energy efficiency can help to save money, and the development of low-carbon technologies offers new markets for UK-based businesses. We continue to monitor the impact of the UK's carbon reduction policies on UK competitiveness, including the impact of rising gas and electricity prices on business.

Energy: Wind Turbines

Lord Vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost of upgrading the national grid from Scotland to London to take the surplus load from wind turbines due to be installed in Scotland as part of any undertaking to meet European Union carbon reduction targets.

Lord Marland: The Electricity Networks Strategy Group (an industry group jointly chaired by DECC and Ofgem) report Our Electricity Transmission Network: A Vision for 2020, published in March 2009, set out the network companies' view of the potential transmission investments that would be needed to accommodate the growth of renewable and other low-carbon generation to 2020. These transmission reinforcements will support expected new generation, including in Scotland, where scenarios suggested between 6.6 and 11.4 gigawatts of renewable generation to 2020 are expected. The report estimated the capital cost of these reinforcements as around £4.7 billion, with around £2.7 billion of that specifically in Scotland or to convey electricity from Scotland to other areas of demand. However, transmission investments in England and Wales will be also significantly influenced by the flows of power from Scotland. The report is available on the ENSG website: http://www.ensg.gov.uk/ index.php?article=126.
	In addition there will need to be further investment by transmission owner companies in the existing system through Ofgem's ongoing price control mechanism to accommodate changing flows of power across the system to meet the 2020 targets. As submissions from these companies are made during this process, these funding requirements will become clearer.

Energy: Wind Turbines

Lord Vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the cost of transmitting electricity from Scotland to London was taken into account when the economic viability of wind turbines in Scotland was assessed.

Lord Marland: The Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) published in July 2009 considered the scenario for delivering about 30 per cent of the UK's electricity from renewable sources, the majority of which is expected to come from wind power. The RES included impact assessments that included an assessment of the costs and benefits of the proposed policies, including for renewable electricity. These assessments took account of cost estimates for connection to the grid (onshore and offshore), and for additional grid reinforcements as outlined in the March 2009 Electricity Networks Strategy Group report Our Electricity Transmission Network: A Vision for 2020, including those from Scotland to England. Transmission charges and grid connection costs were included in the technology cost assumptions for onshore and offshore wind. In respect of transmission charges, no differentiation was made between generation in different parts of the UK.
	A copy of the RES and accompanying impact assessments are available at: http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/energy_mix/renewable/res/res.aspx.
	A copy of the Electricity Networks Strategy Group 2020 report is available on the ENSG website at: http://www.ensg.gov.uk/index.php?article=126.

Energy: Wind Turbines

Lord Vinson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated additional cost to households in England of upgrading the national grid to take the surplus load from wind turbines due to be installed in Scotland.

Lord Marland: Transmission-related costs currently account for around 3 to 4 per cent of consumers' electricity bills. The Electricity Networks Strategy Group (an industry group jointly chaired by DECC and Ofgem) report Our Electricity Transmission Network: A Vision for 2020 set out network companies' view of the potential transmission investments needed to accommodate the growth of renewable and other low-carbon generation to 2020. National Grid's estimate is that the level of investment envisaged in the report of up to £4.7 billion could result in around a 1 to 1.5 per cent increase in consumer electricity bills. Of the total £4.7 billion investment, around £2.7 billion would be specifically in Scotland or to convey electricity from Scotland to other areas of demand. However, the transmission investments in England and Wales, estimated at around £2 billion, would also be influenced by the flows of power from Scotland. No specific estimates have been made in relation to Scotland-related expenditure.
	The ENSG report is available on the ENSG website at http://www.ensg.gov.uk/index.php?article=126.

European Commission: Fines

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many fines have been levied by the European Commission on (a) the United Kingdom, and (b) other European Union countries, since 1992; for what offences; of what amounts; how many remain unpaid; and by which countries.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Commission has power to fine member states under Articles 126(11) and 260 of the treaty for the functioning of the EU. No such fines have been imposed on the UK since 1992. The UK does not have information on other member states.

Flexible New Deal

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the legal costs of cancelling last year's phase 1 contracts with employment providers to deliver phase 1 of the Flexible New Deal.

Lord Freud: We have embarked on some very productive meetings with FND1 providers on how between us we best manage the transition from Flexible New Deal to the new work programme. It is too early to provide an estimate of the likely costs of making this transition and indeed some of this will depend on whether existing FND1 providers are successful in bidding for the work programme.

Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Thornton on 23 February (WA 282-83) and 6 April (WA 398), whether it is normal scientific practice to cite as evidence studies which have not yet been published, and letters which report the results of those studies, without making clear the status of such documents.

Earl Howe: We agree that the studies have not been peer reviewed. The department's intention was to provide all the relevant information that was currently available centrally. The report on the analysis of osteosarcoma trends in the West Midlands was placed in the Library with the agreement of its authors at the West Midland Cancer Intelligence Unit.
	The unit accepts that case control studies would offer the best means by which the causes of osteosarcoma could be assessed but, with such low incidence, it would take a long time for significant results to appear. The study by the Bone Cancer Research Trust is near to completion and we understand the results will be peer reviewed.

Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 20 May 2009 (WA 323-24) and Baroness Thornton on 6 April 2010 (WA 399), to what extent the wording of the "York" report concerning water fluoridation and bone fracture in sections 8, 8.3.1 and 8.5, reporting "suggesting no association", "no clear association", and the need to interpret results with "extreme caution" because of the low quality and heterogeneity of the studies, was taken into account in their summative conclusion that it "found no association".

Earl Howe: I understand that the comments made in the "York" report about the quality of the research were taken into account in these replies, but agree that an accurate summation of the report's findings would be to state that no clear association was found between water fluoridation and bone cancer.

Fluoridation

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 6 April (WA 399), why European and American authorities are cited for upper safe limits of fluoride consumption and not UK guidelines as given in Report on Health and Human Subjects No. 41.

Earl Howe: The Report on Health and Human Subjects No. 41 was published in 1991, before the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority published in 2006 and those of the American Food and Nutrition Board published in 1997. I am advised that these more recent recommendations better reflect the current expert view on the effects of fluoride.

G20

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will raise at the G20 meeting on 26 and 27 June the imprisonment of Palestinian and Turkish parliamentarians.

Lord Howell of Guildford: This will not be raised at the G20 which is a forum to discuss global economic stability. Human rights issues are raised in other settings.

G20

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will raise at the G20 meeting on 26 and 27 June the imprisonment in Turkey of 2,000 children for alleged terrorist offences.

Lord Howell of Guildford: This will not be raised at the G20 which is a forum to discuss global economic stability. Human rights issues are raised in other settings.

Government Regional Offices

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what process they will follow in considering the case for abolishing the regional government offices outside London, as set out in The Coalition: Our Programme for Government.

Baroness Hanham: The future of the regional government offices outside of London will be considered as part of the spending review.

Government Regional Offices

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, as part of their review of regional government offices and regional development agencies, they are reviewing the regional leaders' boards; and what advice they have given to the regional leaders' boards on their operation in the meantime.

Baroness Hanham: The Secretary of State has announced that government funding for regional local authority leaders' boards-which took over most of the functions and staff of the old regional assemblies-has been ended because we are abolishing their core function of drafting the regional strategy. This will produce an annual saving of £16 million.
	The dismantling of these boards will see local authorities put firmly back in control of planning in their areas and will ensure local people can hold their leaders to account.

Homelessness

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to promote a co-operative approach to homelessness and rough sleeping in London.

Baroness Hanham: The Government have set up a new ministerial taskforce to tackle head-on the problem of homelessness and rough sleeping. Ministers from eight different departments across Whitehall are represented and its first meeting was on 16 June.
	In addition, the Government actively support the mayor's London Delivery Board, which provides a cross-authority and cross-sector partnership to end rough sleeping in the capital. The board comprises homeless charities, the police, NHS London, DWP, MoJ, London Development Agency, Job Centre Plus, National Offender Management Service, local authorities and has a number of working groups including one for local authorities that is designed to promote and support cross-boundary working.

Homelessness: Helpline

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce a national telephone helpline for homeless and other people in difficulty in the United Kingdom.

Baroness Hanham: The Communities and Local Government department spends £2.7 million on the National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS), which is a partnership between Shelter and Citizens Advice providing high-quality advice on homelessness prevention through the network of participating citizens advice bureaux and other voluntary agencies across England.
	NHAS has recently expanded its housing consultancy line and training service to all local authorities in England, which means housing options and homelessness staff now have access to a local call-rate charged housing advice line. The line is staffed by dedicated NHAS advisers who can help local authority workers to handle a wide range of housing advice queries across all housing tenures including advice on homelessness prevention.

Housing

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) are in force; in which authorities; what assessment they have made of the role of EDMOs in reducing the number of empty homes; and whether they will review their operation and effectiveness.

Baroness Hanham: Data on the number of Empty Dwelling Management Orders in force are not collected. To date, 29 interim Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO) have been approved by the Residential Property Tribunal Service. An interim EDMO lasts for an initial period of no more than 12 months. Local authorities do not need any further approval to make final Empty Dwelling Management Orders.
	We are looking closely at the issue of empty homes and the full range of measures that might be taken to bring them back into use. We are examining the effectiveness of current enforcement powers available to local authorities, including Empty Dwelling Management Orders, and reviewing the civil liberty implications of Empty Dwelling Management Orders.
	
		
			 Local authority No. of Interim EDMOs Approved 
			 Bolton Borough Council 1 
			 Carlisle District Council 2 
			 London Borough of Bromley 1 
			 London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham 1 
			 London Borough of Hounslow 1 
			 London Borough of Lewisham 5 
			 New Forest District Council 1 
			 Norwich City Council 6 
			 Peterborough City Council 2 
			 South Gloucestershire Council 1 
			 South Norfolk District Council 1 
			 Southend-On-Sea Borough Council 2 
			 South Oxfordshire District Council 1 
			 South Tyneside Borough Council 1 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands District Council 1 
			 Swale Borough Council 1 
			 Wychavon District Council 1 
			 Total 29

Human Rights

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the treatment of human rights activists in Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi; and what steps they are taking to encourage the protection of human rights activists in those countries.

Lord Howell of Guildford: In Rwanda our high commission in Kigali, which also has non-resident responsibility for Burundi, follows closely all aspects of human rights in those countries. This includes the treatment of human rights activists, and we regularly discuss these issues with both Rwanda and Burundi. In recent months, the local representatives for Human Rights Watch in both Rwanda and Burundi have been expelled, and we have raised these cases with the host Governments, both bilaterally and with our EU partners.
	In Uganda our high commission in Kampala closely follows all aspects of the human rights situation, including gay and lesbian rights and the treatment of human rights activists, and regularly discusses these issues with the Ugandan Government.
	Human rights activists continue to face intimidation, arbitrary arrest and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We follow cases of concern closely and press the Government of the DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet its responsibilities for protecting human rights activists.
	Our embassy in Kinshasa is implementing the EU guidelines on human rights defenders. With our EU partners in the DRC we met eight NGOs representing human rights defenders who have given their feedback on the EU human rights strategy. We have appointed a liaison officer and made their contact details available to local non-government organisations and civil society. The UN Organization Mission in DRC (MONUC) Protection Unit also provides protection services to those in danger including relocation and advice on personal security.

Internet: Broadband

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of all evidence that was collected in preparing the report of the Communications Consumer Panel Local initiatives on next generation access in the UK.

Baroness Wilcox: The Communications Consumer Panel's report brought together the information that was then available about the local broadband schemes that had been announced or were in operation. It was the result of conversations with stakeholders and a web-based review of publicly available information. There is therefore no material or evidence beyond that cited in the report and, where possible, linked in the report to the relevant web source. The Communications Consumer Panel produced two versions of this report; the second was simply an updated version of the original. The Communications Consumer Panel does not have further updates in its workplan.

Marie Stopes International

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any funds provided by them to Marie Stopes International (MSI) will be used to establish MSI abortion clinics in China; and what recent discussions they have had with MSI about that issue.

Earl Howe: Marie Stopes International (MSI) does not use government funds to support its work on sexual and reproductive healthcare services in China. Departmental officials have regular discussions with MSI on a range of sexual health issues.

Marie Stopes International

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any funds provided by them to Marie Stopes International (MSI) were used by MSI to welcome Ms Lin Bin, Minister of China's National Population and Family Planning Commission, to its London headquarters.

Earl Howe: The Government do not fund Marie Stopes International's work with the Chinese National Population and Family Planning Commission.

Mental Health

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many non-British citizens are detained under the Mental Health Acts in psychiatric hospitals in the United Kingdom; and of those, how many are citizens of other European Union countries.

Earl Howe: There is no comprehensive data collection undertaken by the department with regard to the ethnicity or nationality of people detained under the Mental Health Act. Details for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the respective devolved Administrations.

Mental Health

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government in what circumstances non-British citizens detained under the Mental Health Acts in United Kingdom psychiatric hospitals can be repatriated to their countries; and how many have been repatriated in each of the past three years.

Earl Howe: Section 86 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (the 1983 Act) empowers the Secretary of State to authorise the repatriation of certain in-patients detained in England or Wales who are neither British citizens nor Commonwealth citizens having the right of abode in the United Kingdom. Before doing so the Secretary of State must be satisfied that proper arrangements have been made for the patient's removal and for their care and treatment in the receiving country. The Secretary of State must also obtain the approval of the appropriate tribunal. In Wales, this function is transferred to the Welsh Ministers, except in relation to certain patients detained under Part 3 of the 1983 Act subject to special restrictions ("restricted patients"). Part 3 of the 1983 Act deals primarily with mentally disordered offenders.
	Two patients were repatriated by the Secretary of State under Section 86 in 2007, and one in 2009. All three were restricted patients.
	In addition to Section 86, some patients detained under Part 3 of the 1983 Act in England and Wales can be repatriated under the Repatriation of Prisoners Act 1984 (the 1984 Act), as a condition of a conditional discharge or by deportation. Nine restricted patients were deported in 2007, 11 in 2008 and 12 in 2009. To date, two have been deported in 2010. In 2008, one restricted patient was repatriated by means of conditional discharge. No patients have been repatriated under the 1984 Act in the past three years.
	Details of other detained patients who have returned to their countries of origin voluntarily are not collected centrally. Mental health legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland is matter for the relevant devolved Administration.

Mental Health

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons detained under the Mental Health Acts are being treated in (a) the National Health Service, and (b) private hospitals; and what is the average weekly cost of treating such patients.

Earl Howe: At 31 March 2009 there were 16,073 patients detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 in England, 12,339 in National Health Service facilities and 3,734 in independent hospitals. Information on the average weekly cost of treating such patients is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether long-stay in-patients in psychiatric hospitals are entitled to the same social security benefits as persons not in hospital.

Lord Freud: Psychiatric patients who, were it not for their illness, would be serving a term of imprisonment, cannot receive Department for Work and Pensions benefits.
	For other psychiatric in-patients the rules are as follows:
	Income Support
	Premiums paid in respect of disability may be withdrawn from in-patients if another benefit which qualified them for the premium ends or the income support claimant has been an in-patient for a continuous period of more than 52 weeks.
	Employment and Support Allowance
	People who have been in hospital for more than 52 weeks lose their entitlement to the work-related activity or support component. As with income support, most premiums stop after 52 weeks but may be withdrawn earlier if another benefit which qualifies the claimant for the premium ends.
	Incapacity Benefit
	Where a person is in hospital for more than 52 weeks any increase paid for adult or child dependants will be withdrawn unless the Secretary of State approves payment to another person.
	Disability Living Allowance
	Payment of disability living allowance is withdrawn after 28 days for hospital in-patients aged 16 years or over and 84 days for in-patients under 16 years of age.
	Attendance Allowance
	Hospital in-patients who receive attendance allowance are paid for the first 28 days.
	Carer's Allowance
	When payment of attendance allowance or disability living allowance care component (middle or highest rate) is withdrawn from the hospitalised person, payment of carer's allowance to that person's carer is withdrawn at the same time.
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
	Housing benefit and council tax benefit can be paid for up to 52 weeks to people who are in hospital and expect to be discharged home within that period.
	State Pension
	Weekly state pension is not affected by being in hospital, even if a stay in hospital is for longer than 52 weeks. Extra state pension or a lump-sum payment can still be earned during a stay in hospital while a claim for state pension is being put off. However, if an increase is paid with state pension for a husband, wife or someone who looks after a recipient's children, the recipient needs to tell the department when they, or the other person in respect of whom the increase is payable, goes into and comes out of hospital, as the increase payable to the recipient can be dependent on them actually residing with the other person.
	Pension Credit
	On admission to hospital the amount of pension credit payable to a single person will stay the same unless their appropriate amount includes an extra amount for severe disability or carers. The extra amount for severe disability will stop (or may reduce in the case of couples) when attendance allowance or disability living allowance stops. The additional amount for carers stops eight weeks after carers allowance (or underlying entitlement to it) stops. Housing costs will continue to be allowed as long as they are treated as responsible for the costs. This will normally be for a maximum of 52 weeks.
	Couples, where one or both people are in hospital and are not expected to return home on discharge, will be treated as single people and will both claim pension credit in their own right. Where one partner is in hospital and is expected to be discharged home, their pension credit will normally stay the same for the first 52 weeks unless they have an additional amount for severe disability or carers. After 52 weeks both partners are usually treated as single people for pension credit purposes.
	Winter Fuel Payments
	A person who has reached the qualifying age for a winter fuel payment will not receive a payment if, at the qualifying week, they are in hospital getting free in-patient treatment and have been getting such treatment for more than 52 weeks.

NHS: Procurement

Baroness Thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the new national guidance for ethical procurement in the National Health Service following the consultation on it.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will communicate the cost savings and efficiency benefits associated with implementing ethical procurement practices in the National Health Service.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to support NHS organisations in implementing new national guidance for ethical procurement.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to monitor and report on the implementation of the new national guidance for ethical procurement by NHS organisations.

Earl Howe: The department is currently considering its approach to guidance for the National Health Service on ethical procurement and a decision will be made in due course.

Peru

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the President of Peru, Alan Garcia, about promulgating the law on consultation, as approved by Peru's congress, before 18 June, so that the rights of indigenous people which it assures are ratified.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK welcomes any consultation process designed to head off disputes and to protect and respect the rights of the indigenous groups. Our ambassador to Peru has made this known to Ministers at regular intervals, most recently with Environment Minister Brack on 10 June. We understand that President Garcia has until 25 June to consider promulgation of the new consultative law.

Philippines

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are discussing with the Government of the Philippines the issue of human trafficking, including for sexual exploitation, and the level of prosecutions for child sexual offences.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government signed a mutual legal assistance treaty and an extradition treaty with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines in October 2009 which, once ratified, will help bring human traffickers and those responsible for sexual offences against children to justice. Our embassy in the Philippines has discussed these issues with the Government of the Philippines as well as representatives of civil society organisations. We will take forward dialogue on these issues once President-elect Aquino has been inaugurated on 30 June and his Administration have been formed.

Prisons: Northern Ireland

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice the Northern Ireland Office has given to the Northern Ireland Prison Service about potential unrest.

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) does not advise the Northern Ireland Prison Service on potential unrest in Northern Ireland. The chief constable advises both the Secretary of State, and the Minister of Justice responsible for the Northern Ireland Prison Service, in respect of such matters.

Refugee and Migrant Justice

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 14 June (WA 93-94), whether officials will meet Refugee and Migrant Justice to agree means by which that organisation's case load can continue to be serviced.

Lord McNally: The most important issue now that Refugee and Migrant Justice (RMJ) has decided to enter into administration is the arrangements for its clients. The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is working closely with the administrator and others to ensure that urgent arrangements are made so that clients continue to receive a good-quality service. The LSC has experience of handling the transfer of work when a provider leaves the market and is satisfied that there is adequate capacity to absorb the extra workload. Though some initial disruption is unfortunately inevitable, every effort will be made to minimise this. The LSC is making urgent arrangements for other providers to take on RMJ cases that require prompt advice-for example, clients held in detention.

Regional Strategies

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they are giving to regional development agencies and leaders' boards about existing work and the commissioning of new work on the production of regional strategies under Part 5 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

Baroness Hanham: The Secretary of State has announced the Government's intention to abolish regional strategies and that funding for leaders' boards will be cut. In the light of these announcements regional development agencies and leaders' boards should not be doing any nugatory work.

Regional Strategies

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they are giving to local planning authorities about existing work and the commissioning of new work on local development frameworks pending new legislation to enact proposals in The Coalition: Our Programme for Government.

Baroness Hanham: The Government believe it is important for local authorities to have local plans in place to direct sustainable development and provide certainty to investors and communities and that they should carry on preparing them. The Secretary of State has written to all local authorities confirming the coalition Government's intension to abolish regional strategies and housing targets and that he expects authorities to have regard to his letter as a material consideration in planning decisions. That includes decisions on the preparation of local development frameworks.

Shipping: General Lighthouse Authorities

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were employed in each of the communications and marketing departments of the three General Lighthouse Authorities in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007, (d) 2008, and (e) 2009; and how many are now employed.

Earl Attlee: The number of people employed is as follows:
	
		
			  Trinity House Northern Lighthouse Board Commissioners of Irish Lights 
			 2005 4 2 0 
			 2006 4 2 0 
			 2007 4 2 0 
			 2008 4 2 0 
			 2009 4 2 0 
			 2010 4 2 0

Shipping: General Lighthouse Authorities

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in reducing the General Lighthouse Authorities' operating budget for the next three years.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the General Lighthouse Authorities are still planning on an 18 per cent increase in their operating budget over the next three years.

Earl Attlee: The operating costs and budgets for the General Lighthouse Authorities for the next three years have not yet been agreed and will be discussed during the forthcoming corporate planning rounds later in the year.

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking on the pledge in The Coalition: Our Programme for Government to "implement the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, so that citizens know how taxpayers' money is spent in their area and have a greater say over how it is spent".

Baroness Hanham: This Government are committed to increasing transparency across the public sector, to allow citizens to hold government and public services to account. A Public Sector Transparency Board is being set up to drive that work. As a start, councils will be required to publish contracts, tenders and payments over £500 from January 2011, and we will be consulting about how to expand the scope of that requirement. A consultation on the future shape of local spending reports is ongoing to 16 July 2010, and Ministers will consider options after that.

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will make decisions on the first round of proposals from local authorities made under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 and short-listed by the Local Government Association prior to submission to the Secretary of State in December 2009.

Baroness Hanham: In The Coalition: Our Programme for Government we stated that this Government will promote decentralisation and democratic engagement, and end the era of top-down government by giving new powers to local councils, communities, neighbourhoods and individuals.
	The Government are looking carefully at the ideas proposed by local authorities under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 about how we can do just that. We will inform the House when we intend to make decisions about which proposals should be implemented.

Sustainable Communities Act 2007

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to make regulations under Section 5B of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007; and whether they intend to make an order under Section 5C of that Act.

Baroness Hanham: The Government are considering how to implement the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, with a view to giving notice, no later than 1 January 2011, of when the Secretary of State intends to invite local authorities to make proposals which they consider would contribute to promoting the sustainability of local communities. The Government intend to consult on the arrangements surrounding this invitation before making a final decision.

Transport: Roads

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 15 June (HL146) concerning requirements for the development of a dual carriageway, what is the formula used to justify an increase in carriageway standard; and how the consultants who carry out the assessment are appointed.

Earl Attlee: No single formula is used to justify an increase in carriageway standard. The assessment for each case requires an iterative process that takes into account the interactions between forecast traffic flows, scheme cost, operational impact, safety, environmental impact, and the anticipated scheme economic benefits.
	Current guidance, contained in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) volume 5, section 1, part 3 TA46/97, provides suggested starting points for this iterative process but does not dictate what the outcome should be.
	The Department for Transport's policy is to award orders and contracts on the basis of the "most economically advantageous tender". Where possible, the department uses framework agreements to procure design consultancy services. The evaluation criteria used for awarding orders and contracts are in accordance with the criteria set out in the parent framework agreement.

UK: Acreage

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the acreage of (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales.

Baroness Hanham: Information provided by Ordnance Survey for Great Britain and by Land and Property Services, an agency of the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland, indicates that the acreages of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales (including all offshore islands) are estimated at:
	
		
			 Country Area in Acres 
			 England 32,227,108 
			 Northern Ireland 3,359,148 
			 Scotland 19,473,841 
			 Wales 5,135,449 
		
	
	Areas quoted include all offshore islands and land areas above mean high water (mean high water springs in Scotland).
	The precise area of each country will vary from time to time due to natural and gradual changes to the coastline due to coastal erosion and silt deposition.

UK: Coastline

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the length of the United Kingdom coastline in miles at (a) low, and (b) high, tide; and what are the lengths of the coastlines of (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland, and (d) Wales.

Baroness Hanham: Information provided by Ordnance Survey for Great Britain and by Land and Property Services, an agency of the Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland, indicates that the lengths of the coastlines at mean high water (MHW) and mean low water (MLW), (mean high water springs [ordinary spring tides] and mean low water springs in Scotland) are:
	
		
			 Country Length of Coastline at Mean Low Water (MLW) [Miles] Length of Coastline at Mean High Water (MHW) [Miles] 
			 England 8,417 9,462 
			 Northern Ireland 620 542 
			 Scotland 14,675 13,186 
			 Wales 2,323 1,999 
			 United Kingdom 26,035 25,189 
		
	
	These coastal lengths include all offshore islands, and land areas which are above MLW.
	The precise length of coastlines will vary from time to time due to natural and gradual changes arising from coastal erosion and silt deposition.